Having bladder tumor removed next week :( ??

13 years 7 months ago #33550 by Tom1949
Replied by Tom1949 on topic Having bladder tumor removed next week :( ??
Thanks once agin for all of the help. When the urology doctor called and said I have a 1 1/2 inch tumor in my bladder and I need surgery I went numb. Now I feel numb and dumb. I asked him what now & he said surgery, I said how big and he said about 2 inches/golf ball size.

Do I need to ask any kind of questions at all before the surgery to remove the tumor? Like where it is on surface or partially on surface partially in etc?

What questions should my wife and I have afterwards in case we don't hear everything we need to hear.

I'm not sure if they know enough from CT alone to know 100% if malignant or benign. Will they know malignant or benign for sure right away or do they do a biopsy. How long for those type results, preliminary & final etc.

Any assistance with questions I should ask before surgery and after surgery would be appreciated.

Tom (numb & dumb)

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13 years 7 months ago #33549 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic Having bladder tumor removed next week :( ??
The University of Nebraska is an NCI cancer center but I do not know how large their bladder cancer center is. I was able to find one doctor using their search that specializes in prostate and bladder cancer. Here is the link

www.nebraskamed.com/find-physician-doctor.aspx

In some areas you will find very good Urologists that are very competent but if you wish to see someone that is world renown the only one I know of closer to you are Chicago or Iowa City. No matter what your diagnosis is it would be suggested that you get a second opinion from a center that is considered a center of excellence for bladder cancer just to make sure all is as it should be. If you should need a Radical Cystectomy you want to make sure you have someone do it that does a high volume of them as it has been shown the outcome is better statistically. Where you get your treatments or follow up can be with someone who is competent locally. I personally had my Radical Cystectomy in Chicago and live in MA and have my follow up care here.

Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society

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13 years 7 months ago - 13 years 7 months ago #33542 by Tom1949
Replied by Tom1949 on topic Having bladder tumor removed next week :( ??
Does anybody know a good bladder cancer specific doctor in the Omaha area we have family (adult children) there and it would be better for my wife and adult kids etc. Thanks again. T

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13 years 7 months ago #33541 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic Having bladder tumor removed next week :( ??
You are lucky you are close to one of the best in the business. Dr. Michael A. O'Donnell, MD, FACS, Professor and Director of Urologic Oncology at the University of Iowa at Iowa City. He does a great deal of research and on top of it is considered to be easy to work with.

His Bio-page

www.uihealthcare.com/depts/med/urology/urologymds/odonnell.html

The University of Iowa Department of Urology link

www.uihealthcare.com/depts/med/urology/index.html

I am sure there are many other good Urologist there but I have personal knowledge of him.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society

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13 years 7 months ago #33540 by Tom1949
Replied by Tom1949 on topic Having bladder tumor removed next week :( ??
God Bless all of you. Thank you Tom

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13 years 7 months ago #33539 by GKLINE
Tom
Patricia will soon chime in with her vast knowledge of Dr. and Hospitals. I just wanted to let you know that we ALL went numb when we first heard the news. But now is the time to get down to the work of living.

Mike sent you to the "flow Chart" and I hope you printed it out. The only thing missing from the flow chart is a line at the end that says.... cancer gone! Get on with LIFE!

Getting to the RIGHT Dr. is the key. You do not want an artist, or a Jack of all thing medical. You want an assembly line worker who has seen it all and has done so many bladder surgeries that he could be dead asleep and still perform! Mike has started this journey with you. I am now with you. Pat will soon be with you. And so will many others on this site. Even if they don't chime in. We are all here for you.

The adventure is beginning and we are going to take on the fight with you.

George

Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he's warm forever.

08/08/08...RC neo bladder
09/09/09...New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]

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